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Home Daily News White House counsel Don McGahn would like… Executive Branch By Debra Cassens Weiss Posted March 23, 2018, 10:56 am CDT White House counsel Don McGahn. Photo by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons. White House counsel Don McGahn is said to be mulling a resignation later this year. McGahn has signaled an interest in returning to Jones Day, but any exit would likely be delayed, anonymous sources tell Politico. McGahn has reportedly told associates he would like to leave the job by the summer, but he may not step down that soon. Trump wants to choose a new White House counsel before McGahn leaves, which could delay McGahn’s departure. Another holdup could be spurred by a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. According to prior press coverage, McGahn has “almost unilateral authority” to run the judicial nominations process. Politico describes the relationship between Trump and McGahn as complicated. Two sources said they rarely speak, but a third … [Read more...] about White House counsel Don McGahn would like to resign later this year, sources say

Home Daily News White House counsel has central role in controversies… Executive Branch By Debra Cassens Weiss Posted February 15, 2018, 3:06 pm CST President Donald Trump/Shutterstock.com. White House counsel Don McGahn is again at the center of controversy amid revelations that he was told of domestic abuse allegations against Rob Porter, even as the now-former White House staff secretary was allowed to stay on the job. McGahn is increasingly isolated as he walks a fine line as he seeks to “mollify and protect” President Donald Trump, the Washington Post reports. McGahn has sometimes opposed Trump, reportedly refusing to ask the Justice Department to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, sources have told the New York Times and the Washington Post. In two other instances, his Justice Department requests have gone unheeded, according to the Post’s sources. In one instance, McGahn reportedly called a senior DOJ official at Trump’s request to try to get … [Read more...] about White House counsel has central role in controversies as he seeks to ‘mollify and protect’ Trump

Rob Porter was staff secretary, serving as a gatekeeper in deciding which documents reached President Donald Trump, report the Washington Post and the New York Times. CNN and the New York Times both described him as a “rising star.”Porter said in a statement that the allegations by two former wives were “outrageous” and “simply false.”His first wife said Porter had been “verbally, emotionally and physically abusive” and had once punched her in the face. His second wife had written a blog post, without naming Porter, that said her husband had called her a name, physically prevented her from leaving the house and punched in a glass door in her home when she was locked inside. She obtained a temporary emergency protective order after the incident with the door.The protective order reportedly prevented Porter from getting a full security clearance, Politico reports, relying on an anonymous source.Porter once worked as an associate at Sidley … [Read more...] about White House aide who resigned amid abuse allegations was a former BigLaw lawyer and ‘rising star’

President Donald Trump reportedly ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller last June but then backed down after pushback by the White House counsel.White House counsel Don McGahn reportedly said he would resign rather than ask the U.S. Justice Department to carry out Trump’s order. The New York Times was first with the news in a story based on four anonymous sources. Several news organizations followed with their own stories, including the Washington Post and Politico.Trump also reportedly considered firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who had announced Mueller’s appointment on May 17 after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation into Russian influence.Mueller is aware of Trump’s reported order to fire him.Trump had argued that Mueller had a conflict of interest for three reasons, according to two of the anonymous sources who spoke with the Times. First, Trump said Mueller had resigned from one of his golf clubs in … [Read more...] about White House counsel reportedly refused to fire special counsel Mueller after Trump ordered it

The preliminary injunction (PDF) issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William Alsup remains in effect during litigation in five consolidated lawsuits that challenge the government’s decision to wind down the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).The 2012 program deferred deportation for the immigrants and allowed them to obtain work permits. The Justice Department had contended the program must end because its creation had circumvented Congress.Alsup said immigrants protected by the program must be allowed to renew their enrollments while the lawsuits are pending, but new applications can be set aside. The Washington Post (in stories here and here), Reuters and Politico have coverage.White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the judge’s decision was “outrageous” and any decision on the program should be left to Congress.“An issue of this magnitude must go through the normal legislative process,” she said. … [Read more...] about Judge blocks DACA rescission; White House calls decision ‘outrageous’